Tcf7l2 in hepatocytes regulates de novo lipogenesis in diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with type 2 diabetes may more easily progress towards severe forms of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Although the Wnt effector transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is closely associated with type 2 diabetes risk, the role of TCF7L2 in NAFLD development remains unclear. Here, we investigated how changes in TCF7L2 expression in the liver affects hepatic lipid metabolism based on the major risk factors of NAFLD development. METHODS: Tcf7l2 was selectively ablated in the liver of C57BL/6N mice by inducing the albumin (Alb) promoter to recombine Tcf7l2 alleles floxed at exon 5 (liver-specific Tcf7l2-knockout [KO] mice: Alb-Cre;Tcf7l2f/f). Alb-Cre;Tcf7l2f/f and their wild-type (Tcf7l2f/f) littermates were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) for 22 weeks to reproduce NAFLD/NASH. Mice were refed a standard chow diet or an HCD to stimulate de novo lipogenesis (DNL) or fed an HFD to provide exogenous fatty acids. We analysed glucose and insulin sensitivity, metabolic respiration, mRNA expression profiles, hepatic triglyceride (TG), hepatic DNL, selected hepatic metabolites, selected plasma metabolites and liver histology. RESULTS: Alb-Cre;Tcf7l2f/f essentially exhibited increased lipogenic genes, but there were no changes in hepatic lipid content in mice fed a normal chow diet. However, following 22 weeks of diet-induced NAFLD/NASH conditions, liver steatosis was exacerbated owing to preferential metabolism of carbohydrate over fat. Indeed, hepatic Tcf7l2 deficiency enhanced liver lipid content in a manner that was dependent on the duration and amount of exposure to carbohydrates, owing to cell-autonomous increases in hepatic DNL. Mechanistically, TCF7L2 regulated the transcriptional activity of Mlxipl (also known as ChREBP) by modulating O-GlcNAcylation and protein content of carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), and targeted Srebf1 (also called SREBP1) via miRNA (miR)-33-5p in hepatocytes. Eventually, restoring TCF7L2 expression at the physiological level in the liver of Alb-Cre;Tcf7l2f/f mice alleviated liver steatosis without altering body composition under both acute and chronic HCD conditions. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In mice, loss of hepatic Tcf7l2 contributes to liver steatosis by inducing preferential metabolism of carbohydrates via DNL activation. Therefore, TCF7L2 could be a promising regulator of the NAFLD associated with high-carbohydrate diets and diabetes since TCF7L2 deficiency may lead to development of NAFLD by promoting utilisation of excess glucose pools through activating DNL. DATA AVAILABILITY: RNA-sequencing data have been deposited into the NCBI GEO under the accession number GSE162449 ( www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE162449 ).

Cancer-specific cytotoxicity of pyridinium-based ionic liquids by regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-centric cancer metabolism.

Owing to their unique properties and biological activities, ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted research interest in pharmaceutics and medicine. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)- 1α is an attractive cancer drug target involved in cancer malignancy in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Herein, we report the inhibitory activity of ILs on the HIF-1α pathway and their mechanism of action. Substitution of a dimethylamino group on pyridinium reduced hypoxia-induced HIF-1α activation. It selectively inhibited the viability of the human colon cancer cell line HCT116, compared to that of the normal fibroblast cell line WI-38. These activities were enhanced by increasing the alkyl chain length in the pyridinium. Under hypoxic conditions, dimethylaminopyridinium reduced the accumulation of HIF-1α and its target genes without affecting the HIF1A mRNA level in cancer cells. It suppressed the oxygen consumption rate and ATP production by directly inhibiting electron transfer chain complex I, which led to enhanced intracellular oxygen content and oxygen-dependent degradation of HIF-1α under hypoxia. These results indicate that dimethylaminopyridinium suppresses the mitochondria and HIF-1α-dependent glucose metabolic pathway in hypoxic cancer cells. This study provides insights into the anticancer activity of pyridinium-based ILs through the regulation of cancer metabolism, making them promising candidates for cancer treatment.

Maturation of human intestinal organoids in vitro facilitates colonization by commensal lactobacilli by reinforcing the mucus layer.

Lactobacilli, which are probiotic commensal bacteria that mainly reside in the human small intestine, have attracted attention for their ability to exert health-promoting effects and beneficially modulate host immunity. However, host epithelial-commensal bacterial interactions are still largely unexplored because of limited access to human small intestinal tissues. Recently, we described an in vitro maturation technique for generating adult-like, mature human intestinal organoids (hIOs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that closely resemble the in vivo tissue structure and cellular diversity. Here, we established an in vitro human model to study the response to colonization by commensal bacteria using luminal microinjection into mature hIOs, allowing for the direct examination of epithelial-bacterial interactions. Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus plantarum were more likely to survive and colonize when microinjected into the lumen of mature hIOs than when injected into immature hIOs, as determined by scanning electron microscopy, colony formation assay, immunofluorescence, and real-time imaging with L plantarum expressing red fluorescent protein. The improved mature hIO-based host epithelium system resulted from enhanced intestinal epithelial integrity via upregulation of mucus secretion and tight junction proteins. Our study indicates that mature hIOs are a physiologically relevant in vitro model system for studying commensal microorganisms.

Interleukin 1 Up-regulates MicroRNA 135b to Promote Inflammation-Associated Gastric Carcinogenesis in Mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gastritis is associated with development of stomach cancer, but little is known about changes in microRNA expression patterns during gastric inflammation. Specific changes in gene expression in epithelial cells are difficult to monitor because of the heterogeneity of the tissue. We investigated epithelial cell-specific changes in microRNA expression during gastric inflammation and gastritis-associated carcinogenesis in mice. METHODS: We used laser microdissection to enrich epithelial cells from K19-C2mE transgenic mice, which spontaneously develop gastritis-associated hyperplasia, and Gan mice, which express activated prostaglandin E2 and Wnt in the gastric mucosa and develop gastric tumors. We measured expression of epithelial cell-enriched microRNAs and used bioinformatics analyses to integrate data from different systems to identify inflammation-associated microRNAs. We validated our findings in gastric tissues from mice and evaluated protein functions in gastric cell lines (SNU-719, SNU-601, SNU-638, AGS, and GIF-14) and knockout mice. Organoids were cultured from gastric corpus tissues of wild-type and miR-135b-knockout C57BL/6 mice. We measured levels of microRNAs in pairs of gastric tumors and nontumor mucosa from 28 patients in Japan. RESULTS: We found microRNA 135b (miR-135B) to be the most overexpressed microRNA in gastric tissues from K19-C2mE and Gan mice: levels increased during the early stages of gastritis-associated carcinogenesis. Levels of miR-135B were also increased in gastric tumor tissues from gp130F/F mice and patients compared with nontumor tissues. In gastric organoids and immortalized cell lines, expression of miR-135B was induced by interleukin 1 signaling. K19-C2mE mice with disruption of Mir-135b developed hyperplastic lesions that were 50% smaller than mice without Mir-135b disruption and had significant reductions in cell proliferation. Expression of miR-135B in gastric cancer cell lines increased their colony formation, migration, and sphere formation. We identified FOXN3 and RECK messenger RNAs (mRNAs) as targets of miR-135B; their knockdown reduced migration of gastric cancer cell lines. Levels of FOXN3 and RECK mRNAs correlated inversely with levels of miR-135B in human gastric tumors and in inflamed mucosa from K19-C2mE mice. CONCLUSIONS: We found expression of miR-135B to be up-regulated by interleukin L1 signaling in gastric cancer cells and organoids. miR-135B promotes invasiveness and stem-cell features of gastric cancer cells in culture by reducing FOXN3 and RECK messenger RNAs. Levels of these messenger RNA targets, which encode tumor suppressor, are reduced in human gastric tumors.

RNA-seq based transcriptome analysis of EHMT2 functions in breast cancer.

For breast cancer treatment, hormone therapy is effective for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer but not for TNBC (triple-negative breast cancer). Thus, many researchers have attempted to identify more effective therapeutic candidates for all subtypes of breast cancer. In this study, we established an RNA-seq analytical pipeline to analyze the subtype-specific functions of EHMT2 in the MB231 and MCF7 cell lines. After EHMT2 knockdown, we identified subtype-specific DEGs (differentially expressed genes) and overlapping DEGs. Through GO (Gene Ontology) analysis, GSEA (gene set enrichment analysis), and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis using the DEGs, we identified the subtype-specific functions of EHMT2 in the MB231 and MCF7 cell lines. Therefore, herein, we suggest that EHMT2 is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of all types of breast cancer.

microRNA-30a arbitrates intestinal-type early gastric carcinogenesis by directly targeting ITGA2.

BACKGROUND: Spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM) is considered a precursor lesion of intestinal metaplasia and intestinal-type gastric cancer (GC), but little is known about microRNA alterations during metaplasia and GC developments. Here, we investigate miR-30a expression in gastric lesions and identify its novel target gene which is associated with the intestinal-type GC. METHODS: We conducted in situ hybridization and qRT-PCR to determine miR-30a expression in gastric tissues. miR-30a functions were determined through induction or inhibition of miR-30a in GC cell lines. A gene microarray was utilized to confirm miR-30a target genes in GC, and siRNA-mediated target gene suppression and immunostaining were performed. The Cancer Genome Atlas data were utilized to validate gene expressions. RESULTS: We found down-regulation of miR-30a during chief cell transdifferentiation into SPEM. MiR-30a level was also reduced in the early stage of GC, and its level was maintained in advanced GC. We identified a novel target gene of miR-30a and ITGA2, and our results showed that either ectopic expression of miR-30a or ITGA2 knockdown suppressed GC cell proliferation, migration, and tumorigenesis. Levels of ITGA2 inversely correlated with levels of miR-30a in human intestinal-type GC. CONCLUSION: We found down-regulation of miR-30a in preneoplastic lesions and its tumor-suppressive functions by targeting ITGA2 in GC. The level of ITGA2, which functions as an oncogene, was up-regulated in human GC. The results of this study suggest that coordination of the miR-30a-ITGA2 axis may serve as an important mechanism in the development of gastric precancerous lesions and intestinal-type GC.

Cks1 regulates human hepatocellular carcinoma cell progression through osteopontin expression.

Precise cell cycle regulation is critical to prevent aberrant cell proliferation and cancer progression. Cks1 was reported to be an essential accessory factor for SCFSkp2, the ubiquitin ligase that targets p27Kip1 for proteasomal degradation; these actions drive mammalian cell transition from G1 to S phase. In this study, we investigated the role played by Cks1 in the growth and progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Silencing Cks1 expression abrogated osteopontin (OPN) expression in a p27Kip1-dependent manner in Huh7 HCC cells. OPN increased the proliferation, migration and invasion of Huh7 cells. Pharmacological inhibitor studies demonstrated that ERK1/2 signaling is responsible mainly for Cks1-mediated OPN expression. Cks1 appears to regulate ERK1/2 signaling through the expression of dual-specificity phosphatase 16 (DUSP16) because both Cks1 knockdown, which leads to DUSP16 upregulation, and DUSP16 overexpression decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and the resulting OPN expression. The same is true for the Cks1-mediated increases in p27Kip1, suggesting that Cks1 regulates OPN expression through activating ERK1/2 signaling either by suppressing DUSP16 expression or by a p27Kip1-dependent mechanism. Cks1 and OPN expression levels were significantly higher, but DUSP16 expression levels were significantly lower in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues. Both Cks1 and OPN expression were negatively correlated with DUSP16 expression, whereas Cks1 expression was positively correlated with OPN expression. Moreover, combined panels for the expression levels of Cks1, DUSP16 and OPN showed significant prognostic power for the risk assessment of HCC patient overall survival. In conclusion, our data propose a novel function for Cks1 as a tumor promoter through the expression of the strongly oncogenic protein OPN in HCC.

Two distinct cellular pathways leading to endothelial cell cytotoxicity by silica nanoparticle size.

BACKGROUND: Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are widely used for biosensing and diagnostics, and for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. Safety concerns about the biomedical and clinical applications of SiNPs have been raised, necessitating analysis of the effects of their intrinsic properties, such as sizes, shapes, and surface physicochemical characteristics, on human health to minimize risk in biomedical applications. In particular, SiNP size-associated toxicological effects, and the underlying molecular mechanisms in the vascular endothelium remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the detailed mechanisms underlying the cellular response to exposure to trace amounts of SiNPs and to determine applicable size criteria for biomedical application. METHODS: To clarify whether these SiNP-mediated cytotoxicity due to induction of apoptosis or necrosis, human ECs were treated with SiNPs of four different non-overlapping sizes under low serum-containing condition, stained with annexin V and propidium iodide (PI), and subjected to flow cytometric analysis (FACS). Two types of cell death mechanisms were assessed in terms of production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction, and autophagy activity. RESULTS: Spherical SiNPs had a diameter of 21.8 nm; this was further increased to 31.4, 42.9, and 56.7 nm. Hence, we investigated these effects in human endothelial cells (ECs) treated with these nanoparticles under overlap- or agglomerate-free conditions. The 20-nm SiNPs, but not SiNPs of other sizes, significantly induced apoptosis and necrosis. Surprisingly, the two types of cell death occurred independently and through different mechanisms. Apoptotic cell death resulted from ROS-mediated ER stress. Furthermore, autophagy-mediated necrotic cell death was induced through the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling axis. Together, the present results indicate that SiNPs within a diameter of < 20-nm pose greater risks to cells in terms of cytotoxic effects. CONCLUSION: These data provide novel insights into the size-dependence of the cytotoxic effects of silica nanoparticles and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The findings are expected to inform the applicable size range of SiNPs to ensure their safety in biomedical and clinical applications.

Epigenetic Alterations of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) in Cancer.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are associated with various physiological processes (protein refolding and degradation) involved in the responses to cellular stress, such as cytotoxic agents, high temperature, and hypoxia. HSPs are overexpressed in cancer cells and play roles in their apoptosis, invasion, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The regulation or translational modification of HSPs is recognized as a therapeutic target for the development of anticancer drugs. Among the regulatory processes associated with HSP expression, the epigenetic machinery (miRNAs, histone modification, and DNA methylation) has key functions in cancer. Moreover, various epigenetic modifiers of HSP expression have also been reported as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers of cancer. Thus, in this review, we describe the epigenetic alterations of HSP expression in cancer cells and suggest that HSPs be clinically applied as diagnostic and therapeutic markers in cancer therapy via controlled epigenetic modifiers.

The Epigenetic Regulation of HCC Metastasis.

Epigenetic alterations, such as histone modification, DNA methylation, and miRNA-mediated processes, are critically associated with various mechanisms of proliferation and metastasis in several types of cancer. To overcome the side effects and limited effectiveness of drugs for cancer treatment, there is a continuous need for the identification of more effective drug targets and the execution of mechanism of action (MOA) studies. Recently, epigenetic modifiers have been recognized as important therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on their reported abilities to suppress HCC metastasis and proliferation in both in vivo and in vitro studies. Therefore, here, we introduce epigenetic modifiers and alterations related to HCC metastasis and proliferation, and their molecular mechanisms in HCC metastasis. The existing data suggest that the study of epigenetic modifiers is important for the development of specific inhibitors and diagnostic targets for HCC treatment.

MAL and TMEM220 are novel DNA methylation markers in human gastric cancer.

CONTEXT: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To determine the mRNA-expression of the MAL, TMEM220, MMP28, IL-19 and HOPX genes and analyse the methylation statuses of MAL and TMEM220. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene-expression levels were analysed in 10 GC cell lines and 30 matched pairs of GC and normal mucosa (NM) gastric tissue specimens in real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reactions. Gene methylation was evaluated by bisulphite sequencing. Detailed gene-methylation patterns were confirmed by pyrosequencing analysis. RESULTS: MAL, TMEM220, MMP28 and IL-19 were significantly down-regulated in GC cell lines and GC tissues compared to NM tissues. MAL and TMEM220 were highly methylated in GC tissues, and methylation inversely correlated with expression. MAL and TMEM220 expression were restored by treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. MAL and TMEM220 were specifically methylated and were down-regulated in human GC. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These loci may serve as novel methylation markers for patients with GC.

Comprehensive genome- and transcriptome-wide analyses of mutations associated with microsatellite instability in Korean gastric cancers.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a critical mechanism that drives genetic aberrations in cancer. To identify the entire MS mutation, we performed the first comprehensive genome- and transcriptome-wide analyses of mutations associated with MSI in Korean gastric cancer cell lines and primary tissues. We identified 18,377 MS mutations of five or more repeat nucleotides in coding sequences and untranslated regions of genes, and discovered 139 individual genes whose expression was down-regulated in association with UTR MS mutation. In addition, we found that 90.5% of MS mutations with deletions in gene regions occurred in UTRs. This analysis emphasizes the genetic diversity of MSI-H gastric tumors and provides clues to the mechanistic basis of instability in microsatellite unstable gastric cancers.

MicroRNA-29c mediates initiation of gastric carcinogenesis by directly targeting ITGB1.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer (GC) remains difficult to cure due to heterogeneity in a clinical challenge and the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease are complex and not completely understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in GC, but the role of specific miRNAs involved in this disease remains elusive. We performed next generation sequencing (NGS)-based whole-transcriptome profiling to discover GC-specific miRNAs, followed by functional validation of results. DESIGN: NGS-based miRNA profiles were generated in matched pairs of GCs and adjacent normal mucosa (NM). Quantitative RT-PCR validation of miR-29c expression was performed in 274 gastric tissues, which included two cohorts of matched GC and NM specimens. Functional validation of miR-29c and its gene targets was undertaken in cell lines, as well as K19-C2mE and K19-Wnt1/C2mE transgenic mice. RESULTS: NGS analysis revealed four GC-specific miRNAs. Among these, miR-29c expression was significantly decreased in GC versus NM tissues (p<0.001). Ectopic expression of miR-29c mimics in GC cell lines resulted in reduced proliferation, adhesion, invasion and migration. High miR-29c expression suppressed xenograft tumour growth in nude mice. Direct interaction between miR-29c and its newly discovered target, ITGB1, was identified in cell lines and transgenic mice. MiR-29c expression demonstrated a stepwise decrease in wild type hyperplasia-dysplasia cascade in transgenic mice models of GC. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-29c acts as a tumour suppressor in GC by directly targeting ITGB1. Loss of miR-29c expression is an early event in the initiation of gastric carcinogenesis and may serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for patients with GC.

Prodigiosin regulates cancer metabolism through interaction with GLUT1.

In contrast to normal cells, cancer cells predominantly utilise glycolysis for ATP generation under aerobic conditions, facilitating proliferation and metastasis. Targeting glycolysis is effective for cancer treatment. Prodigiosin (PDG) is a natural compound with various bioactivities, including anticancer effects. However, the precise action mechanisms and molecular targets of PDG, which has demonstrated efficacy in regulating glucose metabolism in cancer cells, remain elusive. Here, we aimed to investigate the anti-cancer activity of PDG and mechanism in cancer metabolism. PDG regulated cancer metabolism by suppressing intracellular ATP production rate and levels. It inhibited glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, impeding ATP production dependent on both glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. Moreover, it inhibited cellular glucose uptake by directly interacting with glucose transporter 1 without affecting its mRNA or protein levels in HCT116 cells. We provide insights into the anti-cancer effects of PDG mediated via cancer metabolism regulation, suggesting its therapeutic potential for cancer.

Stilbenoid derivatives as potent inhibitors of HIF-1α-centric cancer metabolism under hypoxia.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is a crucial transcription factor associated with cancer metabolism and is regarded as a potent anticancer therapeutic strategy within the hypoxic microenvironment of cancer. In this study, stilbenoid derivatives were designed, synthesized, and assessed for their capacity to inhibit HIF-1α-associated cancer metabolism and evaluated for inhibition of cancer cell viability and HIF activation. Through the structure-activity relationship studies, compound 28e was identified as the most potent derivative. Specifically, under the hypoxic condition, 28e reduced the accumulation of HIF-1α protein and the expression of its target genes related to glucose metabolism without affecting the expression of HIF-1α mRNA. Furthermore, 28e inhibited glucose uptake, glycolytic metabolism, and mitochondrial respiration, decreasing cellular ATP production under hypoxic conditions. In addition, 28e displayed significant anti-tumor effects and effectively suppressed the accumulation of HIF-1α protein in tumor tissue in vivo xenograft model. These findings suggest that our stilbenoid derivatives exert their anticancer effects by targeting HIF-1α-centered cancer metabolism under hypoxic conditions.

Epigenetic alterations of TP53INP1 by EHMT2 regulate the cell cycle in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a type of cancer with high incidence and mortality rates. Although various chemical interventions are being developed to treat gastric cancer, there is a constant demand for research into new GC treatment targets and modes of action (MOAs) because of the low effectiveness and side effects of current treatments. METHODS: Using the TCGA data portal, we identified EHMT2 overexpression in GC samples. Using RNA-seq and EHMT2-specific siRNA, we investigated the role of EHMT2 in GC cell proliferation and validated its function with two EHMT2-specific inhibitors. Through the application of 3D spheroid culture, patient-derived gastric cancer organoids (PDOs), and an in vivo model, we confirmed the role of EHMT2 in GC cell proliferation. RESULTS: In this study, we found that EHMT2, a histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase, is significantly overexpressed in GC patients compared with healthy individuals. Knockdown of EHMT2 with siRNA induced G1 cell cycle arrest and attenuated GC cell proliferation. Furthermore, we confirmed that TP53INP1 induction by EHMT2 knockdown induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited GC cell proliferation. Moreover, specific EHMT2 inhibitors, BIX01294 and UNC0638, induced cell cycle arrest in GC cell lines through TP53INP1 upregulation. The efficacy of EHMT2 inhibition was further confirmed in a 3D spheroid culture system, PDOs, and a xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that EHMT2 is an attractive therapeutic target for GC treatment.

Up-regulated expression of sulfatases (SULF1 and SULF2) as prognostic and metastasis predictive markers in human gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. In spite of the mortality incidence associated with GC, no reliable prognostic biomarkers are currently available for this malignancy. The sulfatases (or SULFs), SULF1 and SULF2, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of a variety of human cancers. We sought to evaluate the potential of SULFs as biomarkers for GC. Thirty pairs of GC and corresponding normal tissues were analysed for the expression and methylation status of SULFs. Furthermore, the functional role of SULF overexpression was investigated in GC cell lines and tumour xenograft animal models. Lastly, we validated the expression of SULF1 protein in a large cohort of 450 GC patients. GC tissues showed conspicuously higher expression of SULF1 (p = 0.0002) and SULF2 (p = 0.001) compared to normal mucosa, which was correlated with its promoter hypomethylation. Furthermore, high expression of SULFs caused marked acceleration in the growth of xenograft tumours in nude mice. The expression of SULF1 protein significantly correlated with higher recurrence rates (p = 0.0002) and worse overall survival (p < 0.0001) in GC patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that SULF1 is an independent prognostic (p = 0.0123) and lymph node metastasis predictive factor (p = 0.0003) in patients with GC. We provide novel evidence that hypomethylation of promoter CpG islands within SULF genes imparts them with oncogenic potential in GC. Moreover, our data suggest that SULF1 may serve as a promising biomarker for patients with GC.

The EDN1/EDNRA/ß­arrestin axis promotes colorectal cancer progression by regulating STAT3 phosphorylation.

Endothelin receptor A (EDNRA) has been reported to play various crucial physiological roles and has been shown to be associated with the pathology of several diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the molecular mechanisms of EDNRA in the development of human CRC have not been fully elucidated to date. In this context, the present study was performed to investigate biological functions and novel downstream signaling pathways affected by EDNRA, during CRC progression. First, using public data repositories, it was observed that the EDRNA expression levels were markedly increased in CRC tissues, as compared to normal tissues. Patients with CRC with an increased EDNRA expression exhibited a significantly decreased survival rate in comparison with those with a lower EDNRA expression. Furthermore, a positive correlation between the levels of EDNRA and its ligand, EDN1, was found in CRC tissues. The ectopic expression of EDNRA or its ligand, EDN1, promoted, whereas the silencing of EDNRA or EDN1 decreased cell proliferation and migration in vitro. To elucidate the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of EDNRA expression in CRC cells, a phosphokinase array analysis was performed, and it was observed that the knockdown of EDNRA substantially suppressed the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in CRC cells. Of note, STAT3 silencing simultaneously decreased EDN1 and EDNRA expression, with the expression of EDN1 and/or EDNRA appearing to be directly regulated by binding STAT3 to their promoter region, according to chromatin immunoprecipitation and promoter assays, ultimately indicating a positive feedback loop in the expression of EDNRA and EDN1. It was also observed that treatment with an EDNRA antagonist (macitentan), alone or in combination with cisplatin, suppressed cell growth and migration ability, and induced cell apoptosis. Collectively, these data suggest a critical role of the EDN1/EDNRA signaling pathway in CRC progression. Thus, the pharmacological intervention of this signaling pathway may prove to be a potential therapeutic approach for patients with CRC.

Epigenetic regulation of SMAD3 by histone methyltransferase SMYD2 promotes lung cancer metastasis.

Epigenetic alterations, especially histone methylation, are key factors in cell migration and invasion in cancer metastasis. However, in lung cancer metastasis, the mechanism by which histone methylation regulates metastasis has not been fully elucidated. Here, we found that the histone methyltransferase SMYD2 is overexpressed in lung cancer and that knockdown of SMYD2 could reduce the rates of cell migration and invasion in lung cancer cell lines via direct downregulation of SMAD3 via SMYD2-mediated epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, using an in vitro epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) system with a Transwell system, we generated highly invasive H1299 (In-H1299) cell lines and observed the suppression of metastatic features by SMYD2 knockdown. Finally, two types of in vivo studies revealed that the formation of metastatic tumors by shSMYD2 was significantly suppressed. Thus, we suggest that SMYD2 is a potential metastasis regulator and that the development of SMYD2-specific inhibitors may help to increase the efficacy of lung cancer treatment.

The lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 inhibitor Darapladib sensitises cancer cells to ferroptosis by remodelling lipid metabolism.

Arachidonic and adrenic acids in the membrane play key roles in ferroptosis. Here, we reveal that lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) controls intracellular phospholipid metabolism and contributes to ferroptosis resistance. A metabolic drug screen reveals that darapladib, an inhibitor of Lp-PLA2, synergistically induces ferroptosis in the presence of GPX4 inhibitors. We show that darapladib is able to enhance ferroptosis under lipoprotein-deficient or serum-free conditions. Furthermore, we find that Lp-PLA2 is located in the membrane and cytoplasm and suppresses ferroptosis, suggesting a critical role for intracellular Lp-PLA2. Lipidomic analyses show that darapladib treatment or deletion of PLA2G7, which encodes Lp-PLA2, generally enriches phosphatidylethanolamine species and reduces lysophosphatidylethanolamine species. Moreover, combination treatment of darapladib with the GPX4 inhibitor PACMA31 efficiently inhibits tumour growth in a xenograft model. Our study suggests that inhibition of Lp-PLA2 is a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance ferroptosis in cancer treatment.